s a tiny kid I was always chasing my older brothers around our local Park on bikes. They rode fast and pushed me to improve - I learnt a lot from them. They helped me learn how to tackle big jumps and the basic racing skills that serve me today but they also taught me the fun stuff like skids and wheelies; things that really made me love bike riding. I know this 'fun riding' was instrumental in the rest of my career - i'd learnt great riding skills but also had bike riding in my heart. Martyn's tuition in this book feels is so familiar because it's based on that enjoyment of riding the bike, not just the technical aspects of getting fit or winning races, that stuff will take care of itself.

I met Martyn a long time ago, when I was just 19-years of age. Back then I'd just started racing Mountain bike's, mainly Cross country because Downhill hadn't got going yet, I progressed straight into the DH scene as soon as that kicked off. A few race wins got me noticed by the magazines and it was on photo-shoot trips that I got to know Martyn better. I remember seeing him riding for the first time, it was clear he had awesome ability matched with a clever way of breaking the components of a move down so he could attempt them. That 'Trials rider' mentality served him well. He'd watch us trying something and then go think about it for a while, return and nail it!

Like myself, Martyn can handle many styles of riding so we always have great fun pushing each other. I remember one time in Spain when things got pretty sketchy! Martyn had spent days driving around, scoping the land for cool things too ride, eventually finding this dangerous gap between two buildings (it was about five floors up!) I was up for trying it and there was no way Martyn would stand by and watch me take the glory. We attacked the gap with very different styles, me more speed and downhill aggression; Martyn more trials and smooth finesse. The pictures turned out great and the shoot made the front cover of Mountain Biking UK. It just goes to show you can approach obstacles in different ways but the fundamentals are the same. Martyn will show you the fundamentals and keep you smiling all the way.

I am so happy that Martyn decided too write this book. One of the true 'niceguys' of the sport who rides for the right reasons... Enjoyment!